Burial vault handling apparatus



July 8, 1952 w. w. HAAsE" BURIAL VAULT HANDLING' APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1947 Jos 552 5 7 u f/. @7 y 4, a j i July 8, 1952 w. w. HAAsE BURIAL VAULT HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1947 w. W. HAAsE BURIAL vAuLT HANDLING APPARATUS July 8, 1952 3 'Sheets-Sheet 5 IVLIIIIIL. l l l l I I I I l I l l| Filed Sept. 13, 1947 Patented July 8, 1952 Application This'invention relates 4telonrial Vault Vhandling apparatus. More particularly, this inventionrelates tto apparatus for'lf handling 'coneretejburial vaults at the grave ,openings in -cemeteries.

The" burial vault handling `apparatus `which "lflormsr'thesubject matter of the vpresent applica- .'tion isin the nature of an `improvement uponcer;

g tain rfeatures oconstruct'ion .which `are disclosed and claimed in theU. S. Patent No. 2,537,812, is-

sued January 9,1951, to WalterBoehme.

' The handling of VconcreteThin-ia]vaults at grave openings Vin cerneterieshas heretofore -been ajdifficult and'labori'ous operation which has customarily required the services of several workmen, dueto the Weight of Ysu'clflconcreteburial vaults. However,v inzthe 'use ofthe burial vault Lh'andling apparatus which formsthe vsubject matter of `the present 'inventionfa single worlmanis enabled to handle'a concre'te'burial vault a't'the grave openjing in a cemetery.v

Accordingly, an object ofthe present invention is to provide anew and "improvedand relatively simple and inexpensive apparatus for 'handling concreteand like burial yvaults and whichis so constructe'dfand arranged' that injthe usethere' oreal/ single Werkmanis 'ena'hledlto' handle .la convcrete bnrial'vaultat'the'jgrave opening ina cerne- ,-.LmotjhefV object vcsf thefpfesent niveau-ori isfto i, provide inthe new-'burial vault' handlingV apparatus a noveiburi'al 'vaultjcover-supporting table fand a supportingstandardor.basetherefor by .'*means of which 'the cover iof `a ,Concrete burial vaultmay be supported at one sideota grave opening uin a cemetery during thelinterment exercises in ia neat and, 'attractive manner 'and in such a'way, .that it *mayjreadily be raised vand i movedjover and lowered into the graveojpening Aafter :theinterment exercises,

.Aj'na'dditional object of the' invention is to lprofvidefin thenew burial vault handling apparatus a Y novel sturdy and stro'ngrbutV relatively light hoist order-rick which includes a horizontal cross lbeain having aipairof ysupporting standards or `-legsar ranged `at ene end thereof and a single upright vsupporting standard arranged ,at the` other -end .ther-@OL Y lStill another object of -theinvention `is ;to ,pro-

v fvide a novelV arrangement for enabling'thehorizontalcross beam of. the new derrick to be adrjusted horizontally `as to lengthV so 'as 'to enable the new; derrick to' klee,adjusted for use at grave 'openingsofvarying'Widths. f

Y A further object of the invention istrip' "vide in the new burial Vault handling' apparatus a `grave opening;

september 1s, 1947, `serial No. 773,859

1.0mm. (o1. 1in-112s) Y novel arrangement forattaching apair of supporting legs embodied thereinto one end -portion vof the horizontal cross -beam ofthe derrick.

f- Another 'object of "the invention 'is to provide Vin the new `r burial vault handling apparatus a novel arrangement rfor adjustably mounting a pair of auxiliary'supporting legs uponthe horin sont-al cross r"loeam of the V'derrickg between' the ends of the latter, solas toenable thefs'aid'aux- Yyiliary supporting legs to be adjusted-upon and relative yto -the horizontal cross beam-ef'the-derrick and thus lacl'z'omniodated to grave openings of varying Widths. Y

An 'additional object of the invention is to Aprovide in :the new-burial `vault handling apparatus a 'novel device for holding the vtrolley in proper and 'uprightposition upon the horizontal cross ybeam of the -derrick and against lateral'swinging `motion thereon when-the @trolley and .the rchain and pulley'unitcarried thereby are in use.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdescri'pltierra-nd claim and are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration,

vshow preferred embodimentsand the principles thereof and what-I nw consider Yto `het'l'ehest inode in whichgI have contemplated applying those 'principles Other embodiments of *the inlvention `embodying vthe same Ior Aelcniival'ent `princip'les may be used 'and structural changes ymay be made as'desired by those skilled inthe art without departing from the present'invention and the purview of the appended elaine.

Fig. l is a side elevational View ofthe new burial vault handling apparatus s'howing'thelsame ing the box-like /bod-y of a concrete burial jvault arranged inV position to lloelewered into agrave opening, and showing` the cover of the 'said 'concrete burial vault moved into' position 'atop `the vault cover-#supporting table which is embodied in the `present invention;

Fig. 2 isaiview similar vto Fig. l 'blut -showing the relative positions 'of the parts of -the :new

b'urial vault 'handling apparatus when thebexlikebody of 'the Vaultis being lowered into the Fig. 3 is an. end elevational view of 'the new 'burial vault-'handling apparatus as seenffrom rthe "right hand end inFig. 1;`

Fig. 4 is a top .plan View, on line fl-ai in Fig. l, of thenew concrete burial vvault cover-supporting table which is embodied .in the presentinvention; Y

Fig. -5 is `a 'fragmentary sectional detail vview,

y derrick on line 5--5 in Fig. 2, illustrating the trolley and horizontal cross beam of the derrick embodied in the new concrete burial vault handling apparatus and illustrating the means by which the trolleyV is maintained in proper upright position on the horizontal cross beam of the derrick and against lateral swinging or tilting movement thereon;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view, on line `5-"5 in Fig. 4, illustrating certain features of the new concrete burial vault cover-supporting table which is embodied in the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view, on line 1-1 in Fig. 4, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating cer-H -v tain features of construction embodied in the new y in Fig; 1 illustrating the manner in which cery tain parts of the supporting legs which are arranged at one end ofthe horizontal cross beam of the derrick are attached thereto; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view, on-line d Ill-IIJ in Fig. 1, partly in section andpartly in elevation, and illustrating the manner in which the upper section of the single upright supporting standard which is arranged at one end of the horizontal cross beam is detachably attached thereto. A

A typical embodiment of the new burial vault handling apparatus is illustrated in the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at I I, and comprises a derrick I2 which embodies a horizontal cross beam I3, a pair of upright supporting members I4 arranged at one end of the horizontal cross beam I3, a single upright supporting standard I5 arranged at the opposite end of the horizontal cross beam I3, a pair of auxiliary upright supporting members I6 which are adapted to be arranged between the ends of the horizontal cross beam I2, a trolley unit I1, a chain and pulley unit I8 carried by the trolley unit I1, and

a concrete burial vault cover-supporting table I9.

The horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2 includes a main outer tubular section in vthe form of a metal pipe 20 which provides a trackway for l the trolley unit I1, a second and intermediate vtubular section or pipe 2I which extends into the outer tubular section 2U, and an innermost tubular section 22 which extends from the upright supporting members I4 into the intermediate .tubular section 2I to a point beyond the point at which the auxiliary supporting members are l arranged, when in use, so as to strengthen and reenforce the horizontal cross beam I3 of the l2 throughout that portion thereof which spans the grave opening, `during the operation of lowering the box-like body of a concrete burial vault into a grave opening, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the upright supporting members I4 includes a tubular strut or lower pipe section 23 ring 25, and each of these sleeves or rings 25 is permanently attached to one of the pins 24, in any suitable manner, as by welding. Each of the sleeves or rings encircles the intermediate tubular section of pipe 2I of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2. The sleeves or rings 25 are arranged in side by side relationship on the intermediate tubular section of pipe 2'I which is embodied in the horizontal cross beam I3 (Figs. 1 and 2) and each sleeve or ring 25 is attached to the intermediate' tubular section or pipe 2l, land to the innermost smaller 'reenforcing tubular section 22, bymeansof a pair of rivets '26 (Fig. 9).

l The upright supporting members I4 are connected together as a unit by a iiexible element in the form of a chain 99 (Fig. 3).

' The single upright supporting standard I5 includes a main upright tubular support or pipe section 21 the lower end portion of which is telescopically mounted in a short upright tubular pedestal 28 which is attached to and is mounted upon the base 51 of the burial vault coversupporting unit I9, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The upright supporting standard I5 also includes a short pin or tubular pipe section 23 which extends downwardly a short distance into the tubular section or pipe 21, through the open upper end thereof (Figs. 1, 2 and 10). This short tubular pin 29 has a metal collar 30 mounted thereon which encircles and is frictionally tted onto the upper end portion of the pipe 21. The collar 30 has a pair of upwardly extending arms 3I attached thereto inv any suitable manner, or formed integral therewith, and these arms 3| carry a bolt 32 which extends through suitable openings formed in the wall of the main tubular section on pipe 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2. The bolt 32 has a nut 33 mounted thereon. This arrangement enables the upright supporting Vstandard 21 to be readily assembled in supporting relationship with the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the auxiliary upright supporting members I6 'includes a lower tubular pipe section 34 and each of these lower tubular pipe sections 34 is held in assembled and supporting relationship with and upon the main tubular section 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2 by means of a slip ring 36 havinga pin 35 attached thereto Vand depending therefrom. Each of the pins 35 extends downwardly, a short but substantial distance into the corresponding tubular pipe section 34 through the .open upper end thereof (Fig. 2). f i

The slip rings 36 are arranged in side by side relationship upon the main outer tubular pipe section 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2 and areslidably mounted thereon so that the auxiliary supporting members I6 lmay be adapted and positioned, relative to the supporting members I4, at opposite vsides of a grave opening, as shown in Fig. V2,' and thusv used in conjunction with grave openingsv ,of varying widths, as willbe explained more fully hereinafter. Y

The trolley unit I1 includes a main supporting frame 38 which comprises a pair of spaced and generally triangular-shaped side plates 39 having a pair of spaced trolley Vwheels or rollers 40 provided therebetween at the ends thereof. These trolley wheels .orrollers 40 ride upon the main and outer pipe section 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2 which provides a trackway therefor.

fi .In'order Y lright position "upon 'the main-outer pipe"' sec i burial vault (Fig. 2) v.

standard le and this A chainand pulley supporting 'member- 4I exiframe 38 and tln'si` chain and pulleyisupporting member l I I has 'a centrally arranged recess 42 formed therein. r`The chain and pulley-supporting `member 4I is jsupported between :theside -Iplates 'ii'v'ofthetroiley Vframet by a- -bolt 4.3 itriesrf' i Y 1 tol 'maintainfthe trolleyfunit I1 in uption 2d oi the horizontal cross beamgIS ofthe derri'ck I2, and-1 against lateral swinging A'or tilting motion? thereon "during: the processofjfraising and lowering tthev box-like body; and coverv of burial vaultya latch bolt 44- is threaded 'l a concrete into` a threaded 'opening e5 l provided "inone'f of 'the side'plate's 39 of the trolley""frame33.*Y vThe inner end portion of the latch'lbolt'has an enlarged substantially 'squarebearing head or plate wl'attach'ed thereto in any manner, asby'weldl ing, and thi'sbearing head yorplate I01l is latchingly engageable with the outer surfacefof the 'main tubular pipev sectionZ of the horizontal crossbeam I3 oi the derrick I2, asV shown in-Fig.

'5. 'f The latch boltltis `provided at its outer'end with an enlarged` hand l'grip'head '46 tofacilita'te operationthereof'. Y The chain and jpulley and conventional cons'truc'timl and includes a' hooi.:v :41

'by which the-said chain and puneyunii-,j le is suspended from the central'rece's's-or 4notch 82 in the transverse supporting/,member lil of the `trolley unit I1'. "The chain and pulley uniti'includes a pulley 43 and amain ch'ai'n 49 carried thereby and a plurality of spreader chains' 50, which arefshown'aslbeing IfourY in number. Each Ibftlfie spreader'chainsd has a hook' 5I "attached thereto at vthe-end thereof and each ofk these hooks -5I- is adapted tobef engaged lwith a correspond-4 eye members 52; four' ing one of Aa plurality of in number, which are anchored ina rectangular vpattern in theconcrete of a concrete burial vault cover 53. Likewise, each of thehooksi onk the spreader-chains@ is adapted to-'be engaged with a corresponding one of four eye membersim'whichv are-anchored,` in a rectangular pattern in the bottom -55 ofv the box-like body -56 of aV concrete The new concrete burial vault-coyer'supporting-table? I9, which is embodied in and forms an important part of the present invention', includes l'als'upporting base51, which may be'made of 'wood or metalg- A baseplateor flange' 58 is formed on the tubular basev 28 of the upright supporting base plate or ange is attached to vthe supporting base 51 inany suitable manner, asby'being bolted thereto, as at 59 v(Figs. 4 and 8,) The supporting basel 51 of the concrete Vburial Vault cover-supporting unit I9 has a second upright tubularmetal section orfsup lportingy standard 60 mounted thereon, inspace'd Irelationship with the:A 1tubular supporting standard v2t! This j tubular lSullJOrting standard 1 60 has a baseflangelformed thereonwhich'is bolted, as atz, to the supporting bafsel, Theftwo @aso-21400 --itjv is secured in fingj A fpair of parallel-frame" members lIiI, which i tion' of this upper tubular pipe section'65- to'which n 'any suitable-manner, as by weldfarei substantially In-shaped'l in cross section, are

lsecured 'tol the side marginal edgel portions' of the central turntable"` -portion (i6-*of the concrete burial vault cover-supporting'tablefunitv I9 and are secured thereto inany'suitable manner, as 'vby welding.l The centr 'theconcrete burialvault cover-supporting unit I9 l" turntable portion 65 of is reenrorced -by vfiour .radially extending brace 4mem'oers*fE58- whichv areV 'arrangedf therebelow.

, 'e'nds respectively,

chain Aunit I8 is of supporting table unit 'I 9. 40 'Y sidev iframe members `|`These .brace 'members B8 `are preferably formed integral'withsthecentral turntable` section Bland are `preferablywelded 'at theirv inner and." 'outer to the tubularsection t5V andv to thedependingange of the paralleLL-shaped berstr'l -egitend'outwardly/'beyond theA side edges offthefsubstantially square central section 6'6 of vthevvault cover-supporting table-unit I9, and-a pairV 'of tubularlparallel'side frame members 69 and 10, Awhich are substantially square in cross lsectioniFig. 7) ,are attached to the end portions "of-the L-shapedframeA members 6 1' in anysuitv'able lrfiarmer, asby welding; The horizontal flange portion 1l of an l shap'edend frame member"1'2 rests uponfand'isY Weldedgor' otherwise "suitably secured, tothe tubular'sideframe' memfbe'rs Eiland 10,;atfone end of, the latter, (Figs. aandnzff 4The other-flange 13 of thisend Yframe member 12 projectsabove they top 'ofthe vault cover-supporting table unit VI9' so as to provide a stop against which lonefedg@ eta concrete burial Vault coverr 53 may 'restl when vthe y said concrete-'burial vault cover 53 is supported uponthegvault cover- E The new'conc'rete burial vault vcover-supporting tabl'efunitv I9,'which is embodied in' the present invention, embodies an extensible section 'Iii which includes a metal cross or endframe member 15,

which is substantially l L-sh'aped in crossv section, and this cvrossfram'e member 15v extends parallel to the frame'members 61 and71 2 at thejo'pp'osite end of the tabletop fromthe cross or end frame v"infember' 12 (Fig. 4). 'The ex'tensibleltable top section 1G includes a pairH of' tubular side frame vmember'sv or rails '16 and 1.1 Vwhich ,are substan- Ytially' squarefin cross section ,andv these ytubular side"i`rame members orvrails 'Iand 11fare telescopically and slidably mounted {inthe tubular @.9 and 19, respectively, of the vault cover-supportingftablejunit I 9, asl shown inFig.7.

` AV rod IS extends intothe tubular side frame `member mthroughtheopen endlg thereof, and

thisfro'd 1S has an angled end portion'which lis welded,V as at 8|', to the` upwardly extending *flange 'Isfof the crossor endfrarne member 12 ,(Fig.' 6) This rod lllhasa threadedfinner. end

upright tubular supporting standards 28V and 69 u are interconnected by means 'of upper vand lower metalll cross braces l nect'ed to the tub lar"'supportinstandardsg8 and 6d in any suitable manner, asfby welding. v The lower tubular metal standard B dhasan upper-'tubular metal lsection or ApipejIii telescopi- 'cally mounted therein and the central' turntable '63v and 64 which arecon- 'A formed at spaced'u Verticalfintervals gportion SdonfWhich a'square nut 85 is mounted,

`for .fa'rreason `v vhieh v`will 'be explained thereafter.

l The'uppertubularrpipesectiOnZI lofthe upright slupportingunit I'inay be adjusted vertically to tenerci-.the eeecnve; neigimof the Supporting una 15. Thislis accomplished by means of apin 86 which` isYY `selectively. insertible into and through aligned`V or registered' openings 81 which are or heights in `tliei'upper"tubularLpipe lsection 21. `When thus Vporciones of meeoncrete burial` vault. cover-sup-u.

`rportingtable I9 Lism'ounted on 'the upperend poriairithetupper porting 'unit 'inserted through f aj selected ,pair-` of the openings tubular section v2 'I' "of "thej sup,-

IE'the pin 86`rests' upon the 'upper in Fig. 8. Thepin86 is attached, by a ilexible -element-in the `form ofa chain 89,' toabolt 90 in lower portion `of the upper g whichis mounted tubular section 2'I, of the. supporting unit I5; v

The uppertubular section 65 of the vaultcoversupporting tableunit I9'is adjustable vertically relative to the lower tubular section-60, so as to control the height of the vaultzcover-supporting table unit I9. This is accomplished by means of a Din 9| whi h is selectivelyinsertible into any one of a plurality of vertically spaced pairs o1 aligned orregistered openings 9 2 which arel formed in the 4 inner tubular section 6 5, as shown innige. apair of substantially V-shaped 'notches or recesses 93 whichare formed inthe upper edge of .the outer and lower tubular'pipe Vsection `60 in which the said-substantially V-shaped notches or recesses 93 are spaced 180 apart. The pin 9| is attached, bya chain `94, to one of the cross braces 68 of the vault cover-supporting table unit I9(Fig.8).

As shown in Fig. 8, the open upper end of each of the lower tubular metal standards 60 and V28 may be closed when .not in use, soas to keep out earththrown up from the grave opening, as will be explained hereinaften This -is accomplished by closure members 95. Eachof the closure members 95 includes a top cap plate 96 on the lower surface of which there is formed an annular collar 91 which is adapted vto be frictionally fitted onto the upper end portion of one of the tubular standards 60 and 28 on the outer side thereof. Each of the closure members 95 is suspended by a chain 98 from the cross brace 93 of vthetable unit I9,

when not in use,

' A cross pin |06 is permanently attached to the 4upepr tubular section 65 for engagement inthe notches or` recesses 93, as will be explained hereafter.

The use and operation of the new concrete burial vault handling apparatus are as follows:

The concrete burial vault cover-supporting table unit I9 may be arranged upon the ground |03 at one side of a grave opening |02 in a cemetery. 'The closure members 95 may thenbe arranged upon the open upper ends ofthe tubular standards 28 and 60 to keep outV earth thrown up from the grave opening. The grave opening A|02 may then bedug and the earth |04 therefrom thrown up around the concrete burialvault coversupporting unit I 9,.as is shown in Fig. 1, Whereupon the closure members 95 may be removed from the tubular standards 28 and 60. Y A concrete burial vault 53-56 may be transported into position adjacent a grave opening |02 in a cemetery and laid upon cross planks |05 which are, in turn, laid upon planks and IOI which are laid lengthwise upon the ground |03 at thesides of the grave opening |02 (Fig. 1) The `parts 14-'15--69- 10-16-71-18,etel, of the frame of the vault cover-supporting unit I9 being assembled, the upper tubular section 65 may be Yinserted into the .lower tubular section 60 and the uppertubular section 21 of the vault coversupporting unit Imay be inserted inthe-lower tubular section or standard 28 of thes'upporting unit I5. The pin 29 may thenibe inserted into the upper tubular section 2'I`of the supporting unit I5, through the open upper endr thereof, and the collar 30 frictionallyinserted 'over the upper end portion of the tubular -section-.210i the supporting unit` I5. y One 'ed portionoffthe outermost When so disposed the pin 9| rests in the derrick, I2 maythen be attached, by the Abolt 1 32 and nutz 33, -to the upright 'carrier arms-3| which are attached to the collar 30;

The slip 'rings 36 and attached pins 35j for the auxiliary supporting `members I6 may then be slid onto the outermost and main tubular section 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3 of the derrick I2 and the trolley unit I1 mountedupon the outermost tubularsection 20 of the horizontal cross beam I3.V Y The intermediate tubular section 2| andenclosedinnermost tubular section 22 may then be inserted into `the-outermost tubular section 20 ofthe horizontaljcross Ybeam I3 and the pins 24 insertedinto the upper end portions ofthe tubular struts 23whereupon-the tubular struts 2 3 of .the'supporting members I4 may be spread apart to the limit permitted yby the connecting chain 99. The lowerl end portions of the tubular struts 23 may `be rested upon a wooden plank I 00, which is laid lengthwise along one side edge of the grave opening- |02, as shown in Fig. 1. The chain and pulley unit I8 may thenbe'attached to the trolley unit- I8,`by engaging the hook 41 in the central recessed or notched portion 42 of the Across supporting member 4I (Fig. 5) whereupon the trolley unit il and the chain Vand pulleyjunit I9 suspendedtherefrom may then be moved along the main -andouter tubular pipe section 20 of the horizontal beam I 3. of the derrck I2, as a trackwayinto position above the concrete burial vault 56-53. AThe hooks 5I, which are carried by thespreader chains 50, may then be attached to the eye members52 in the concrete vault cover;- 53, whereupon the concrete vault cover 53 may be lifted by the chain and pulley unit I8, from the box-like body 56 of the concrete burial vault and* transported, by the trolley unit I8 and chain and pulley unit I8, into aposition above the vault cover-supporting table unit I9 onto which the vault cover 53 is then loweredvby the chainand pulley unit I8. The hooks 5I may then be removed from eye members 52 in the vault cover 53 and the trolley unit I8 and attached chain and pulley unit I9 may then -be run back along the horizontal crossebeam or trackway 20 of the derrick I2 into position above the boxlike body 56 of the concrete vault 56-53- The slip rings 35 and attached pins 35 may then be slidv alongy the main tubular section v20 of the horizontal crossbeam I3 of the derrick I2 into a position above the plank I0| and the pins 35 then inserted into the open upper end portions ofthe tubular struts or auxiliary-supporting kmembers V34 which may then be rested on the plank IOI. YThe hooks 5I carried-by the spreader chains 50 may then be attached to the eye members 54 which are embedded in the bottom 54 of the concretebox-likebody 56 of the burial vault 56-53 Ywhereupon the box-like body 56 of the concrete `burial .vault 56-53 may be raised, by the chain and pulley unit I8, slightly above the supporting planks |05, and the latter removed. The chain in Fig. 2, whereupon 25e-esem( 9 i seen in Fie..2, may then 'be .raisedsliehtlyand the pins. 24 removed from =rtheagtubulr yS.lllll301" ,ing members 23 andthepifns jremoved from the; tubular struts; 34' of. the,auxiliary` supporting members :V I 5.-

the auxiliary.tubularsupportins members-3i,v re.- moved from :the plank I0 I. The rings 2.5 and attached pins Eliand-the'attached tubularsection 2| landattached-tubularreenforcingsection 22 of. the horizontal cross beam-,.|3 may .thenbe sep-arated, as aunit, fromthefmainouter tubular section 20 o f the horizontal-cross .beam I3 and the trolley `unit |'I then removedtherefroxn. The

bolt 32 vand ,nut 33 may thenfbejremoved and the-main tubular-unitor section 2,0 .of the horizontal cross beam vI3 thus detached from lthe tubular uppersection 2l of the supporting unit I5. The tubular up-perrsection 21 may then b-e lifted up out of the tubular standard 28 in which it rests, thus completing the disassembling or the new burial vault handling apparatus, in preparation for theinterment exercises. Y

During the interment exercises the planks and |0| may` bey allowedto remain at the sides of the grave opening |02 since they may be lused during the interment exercises to supportV` the casket-lowering device. u f' The concrete burial vault cover 53 is allowed to remain upon the vault cover-supporting jtable unit I9 during the interment exercises and when so arranged is disposed in a horizontal position so thatthe name of the deceased and such religious or fraternal emblem as are customarily arranged upon the topV of the burial vault vcover 53. may-be readily seen by personsaattending the interment exercises. At this time the mound of earth |04 around the vault cover-supporting table unit I9 will be covered by a grass mat.

During the interment exercises the extension 'I4 and the vault cover-supporting table unit I9 provides a support which the pallbearers may grasp to steady themselves when lowering the casket onto the casket-lowering rdevice (not shown) which is rested upon the planks |00 and IGI.

After the interment exercises the parts of the new derrick or hoist may be reassembled, as to Fig. l, and the hooks 5| on the spreader chains 50 attached to the eye members 52 on the burial vault cover 53. The burial vault cover 53 may then be raised by the chain and pulley unit I8 and transported by the trolley unit and chain and pulley unit I8 into a position above the grave opening |02, whereupon the burial vault cover 53 .may then be lowered into the grave opening |02 and onto the box-like body 56 of the burial vault disposed therein. The new derrick may then be disassembled and the grave opening |02 filled by the earth |04 previously thrown up around the Vault cover-supporting table unit IS.

During the operation of raising and lowering the vault cover 53, and the box-like body 56 of the concrete burial vault 516-53, the trolley unit I'I may be secured to the horizontal cross beam I3, and against rocking or tilting motion thereon, by manipulating the squared" bearing head or inner endl portion of the screw or bolt M into bearing engagement with the wall of the main outer tubular section of the horizontal cross The 1 tubular f supporting; 'membersv .23 may then-be removed yfrom thel plankA |00 and beam I3. This may be accomplished by grasping the handle 46 on the clamping Il and manipulating the the latter.

The new concrete burial vault cover-supporting table `unit I9 may bey adjusted to accommoother variable factorscally inserting the tubular jfside.frame sections 'E5 and' 'I'I intov the tubular,side-iramevsections 60. and 23, respectively, .in the case offr'elatively narrow vault covers,- or,in the case ofrelatively wider vault covers, by withdrawing lthe extensible table topsection It relative to the main frame of the vault'cover supporting table unit |9. During this operation the tubular side frame sections 'Ee and 'II slidein the tubular side-.frame sections 59 and le, respectively, and outward movement of the extensible table top section 'I4 is limited by the engagement of the square nut on the rod l5 with the endwall 33 of the tubular side frame section I6 (Fig. 6). v The tubular supporting memberv 65, andthe vault cover-supporting table unit carried thereby, and the vault cover 53 restingthereon, may be rotated uponand relative yto the lower tubular standard G0 upon which. these parts are. supported.v rThis may be accomplished by manual pressure appliedto the vault cover 5?,v and the vault cover-supporting table on which the vault cover rests, whichy will cause the pin 9| to ride out of the notches or recesses 9.3 in the upper edge of the tubular standard ,60. Further. manual force applied to the vault supporting table unit I9, and to the vault cover 53 disposed thereon, will rotate the upper tubular section 65 and the vault cover supporting table unit ISV-'carried thereby, upon and relative rto, the lowery tubular section e5. This may be necessary priorto the interment exercises iftheworkm'en should place the burial vault cover? 53 on the vaultsupporting table unit AI9 `in a'reversed positionrelative to the head and`V 'foot ofthe grave openingIIlZ, Thus the burial vault'cover 53 may be rotated through 180 on its supporting table unit I9, to position the burial vault cover 53 relative to the head and foot of the grave opening |02, without the necessity for reassembling the derrick or hoist I2 to accomplish this result. It will be understood that-this is an important aspect of the present invention since the name of the deceased and such religious or fraternal or other emblems are customarily placed upon the top of concrete vault covers are arranged in a predetermined relationship relative to the head and'foot of the .burial vault and the grave opening.

When it is desired to have theV main supporting frame of the vault cover-supporting table I9 disposed in its lowermost position the pin SI may be allowed to hang idly on its supporting chain and the pin |05 rested in the notches or recesses 93 which are formed in the upper edge of the upper tubular section 65. When so disposed the main frame of the burial vault coversupporting unit I9, table and the burial vault cover 53 disposed thereon, may be rotated relative to the lower tubular standard 60.

The main frame of the newvburial vault coversupporting table unit I9 may be adjusted vertically as to heighth, and relative .to the main supporting standard Se, by inserting the pin SI into a preselected pair of aligned openings 92. This enables the main frame of the new'burial vault cover supporting-table unit I9 to ber adjusted relative to the size of the earth mound |05 thrown upgfrom the grave opening |02, and relative to Similarly, the uppertubular section 21 of the supportingunit I5 maybe adjusted vertically by inserting the pin 30 in a preselected pair of the openings Si which are formed in the tubular section 2'?. The effective heighth of the horither be controlled by adjusting the spread of thetubular supporting members 23.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved and relatively simple burial vault handling apparatus having the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended object, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

Burial vault handling apparatus comprising a derrick including a horizontal cross beam including an outer tubular metal section and an intermediate tubular metal section telescopically inserted into said outer section, an inner reinforcing tubular metal vsection telescopically arranged within said intermediate section, a pair of rings encircling one en d portion of said intermediate section in side by side relationship at one end of said cross beam, means permanently attaching said rings to said end portion of said intermediate section and to said inner reinforcing section, and means. for supporting said cross beam in horizontal position above a grave opening withrsaid cross beam unobstructed from the other end of said beam to a position over such a grave opening disposed below said one end of said beam, said last named means comprising a pair of tubular metal supporting members adapted to be arranged on one side of such a grave opening in a genera1 inverted V-shaped formation under one end portion yof said horizontal cross beam so as to support the latter, a pin attached to and depending from each of said rings, each of said' tubular metal supporting members including an upper end portion having an open end through which one of said pins may be inserted into each of said tubular supporting members, -a pair of slip rings encircling said outer tubular metal section of said cross beam and slidably mounted thereon in side by side relation, each of said slip rings including a pin attached thereto and depending therefrom, a pair of auxiliary tubular supporting members adapted to be arranged'at the other side of said grave opening between the ends of said cross beam, each of said auxiliary members including an upper end portion having an open end into which one of said latter pins may be mounted, and a single upright tubular support arranged under said other end portion of said cross beam for supporting the latter.

' WILBERT W. HAAsE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED ESTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 394,947 Young Dec. 18, 1888 510,495 Zetterberg Dec. 12, 1893 783,853 Bernhard Feb. 28, 1905 812,344 Howser Feb. 13, 1906 1,426,225 Short Aug. 15, 1922 1,726,662 Goff Sept. 3, 1929 1,759,117 Hopp May 20, 1930 1,952,238 Dice` Mar. 27, 1934 2,163,171 Haase June 20, 1939 2,334,435 Patterson Nov. 16, 1943 

